Remembering Staten Island artist Gabe Perillo Sr.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - When Staten Island artist Gabe Perillo Sr. returned from the Pacific after World War II, he had the good fortune to study under the Norman Rockwell. From that time on, Perillo chose to draw and paint boxing scenes, each telling a poignant story à la Rockwell's "Saturday Evening Post" covers. Perillo's work includes sports figures — every heavyweight champ, in fact — and some of the greatest athletes of all time: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Joe Montana, Ali, Frazier, Rocky Marciano and Walter Payton. Not to mention Sly Stallone and Elvis.

A Renaissance man of sorts, the late Perillo also was a professional boxer — a U.S. Navy Golden Gloves champ during World War II — an artist, a writer and a tenor who performed from such beloved operas as "Aida," "Tosca" and "La Boheme" — and the Mario Lanza music buff who received the highest award from the Mario Lanza Institute for both his outstanding singing and the brilliant lifelike portrait of Lanza he created on canvas.

The original painting of Lanza, a tribute to Perillo's special affection for Mario Lanza, resides in the museum in South Philadelphia for all to view. In commenting on the presentation, Perillo noted it was his favorite honor.

Gabe Perillo Jr., a Sunnyside resident, is proud to recount that in 1983 his dad performed five Lanza classics at the 22nd annual Mario Lanza Ball and explains that this year marks the 30th anniversary of his dad's being presented with the "Mario Lanza" award for his amazing art and his outstanding "opera" voice.

Perillo Jr. goes on to explain that after his dad presented the original painting to the institute, a collector's limited gold-banded plate was sanctioned by the institute and reproduced from the original painting that hangs in the museum to this day.

Nick Petrella, the president of the institute at the time, stated that after years of listening to opera singers, the elder Perillo sounded the closest to Mario Lanza than anyone else he'd heard.

JFK MASS

To mark the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, there will be a memorial mass celebrated by Monsignor James Dorney on Friday at noon in St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton. Note that while St. Peter's offers mass every weekday at noon in their chapel, Friday's mass will be celebrated in the main church.

Thoughts of that horrific weekend will forever be etched in the minds and hearts of many, including Jim Smith of St. George. So much so that he was prompted to visit St. Peter's to request that a mass be offered for President Kennedy.

Jim invites all those who remember the events — or those who lived them through history books — to attend the mass.

The festivities will feature a Western motif, but you needn't wear a 10-gallon hat to attend as long as you are a ticket-holder — so says Joan Gerstel, director of community education at the SIMHS.

Tickets are still available for the annual raffle that raises funds for children with special needs who participate in the SIMHS' numerous mental health and related programs and services. Only 250 tickets are sold at $100 apiece. The drawing will reveal the winner of the first prize of $10,000, as well as the winners of the second and third prizes of $1,000 and $500. Guests will also enjoy a light supper, homemade "Guild desserts," and door prizes.